As the NBA lockout has chipped away at the preseason and threatened the 2011-12 season, the loss of a few games in a few relatively far-flung outposts has barely raised an eyebrow. Far greater damage seems imminent.

With NBA preseason games easy to ignore - and labeled by Charles Barkley as a way for owners to "rip off" fans - few mourned the loss of the schedule's first 43 relatively meaningless tuneups.

But in the communities where the NBA's preseason road show pitches its tents and offers a night with at least a glimpse of its stars, the loss has not been so easily dismissed.

These were events to be celebrated, impossible to replace with another ice show or concert.

"Having the NBA come here in the Valley is for us like hosting the Super Bowl," said Eric Blockie, general manager of the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo. "It's a big-time sport. It sells out. We embrace it wholeheartedly."

With Monday's scheduled start of training camp lost amid negotiations in New York that Tuesday could determine if the season will start on time Nov. 1, the league appears only another day or two from wiping out the rest of the preseason schedule.

The Rockets were scheduled to play four preseason games in markets outside NBA cities. The first two of those games - in Hidalgo (a meeting with the Denver Nuggets was planned, though the site officially never was scheduled) and in Kansas City against the Miami Heat - were canceled Sept. 23. The Rockets are scheduled to play the Cleveland Cavaliers in Canton, Ohio, and the New Orleans Hornets in Biloxi, Miss.

Celebrated event

"Any time you can get the caliber of player that the NBA offers, that's a given that that's a viable sports and entertainment event that a community like Biloxi doesn't get very often," said Matt McDonald, the assistant executive director of the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center. "The only outlet is to drive over to New Orleans. When you get the opportunity to get that caliber of player and sporting event to the market and the facility, you want to do that.

"I've got to wait at least 12 months, and there's no guarantee the Hornets can get another preseason game in 2012 scheduled for the market. It may take me two, three years to get them back.

"That in itself is a negative for us. It penalizes the fans and kids from getting a chance to see and be exposed to the NBA.

"It's not just about the money the arena makes. We'd make a few dollars, but a lot of things won't happen."

Preseason games are arranged directly with the venue, as were the scheduled Rockets games in Hidalgo, Biloxi and Canton, or through a promoter who guarantees fees to the teams and venue. Typically, they must sell between 6,000 and 7,000 tickets to profit.

Over the years, the Rockets have held "home" preseason games from Laredo to Birmingham, Ala., Albuquerque to St. Charles, Mo. Since their single-affiliate arrangement to run the basketball operations of the NBA Development League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers took effect, they have annually sent one preseason game to the Valley, facing the Spurs, Celtics and Magic.

Rockets officials are prohibited by NBA rules from discussing anything related to the lockout, including the benefits of games canceled or threatened.

The Rockets have expanded their imprint in the Valley by holding parts of training camps and an open practice in McAllen and Hidalgo in recent seasons, with some players making appearances beyond the preseason commitments.

"It's been exciting," Vipers president Bert Garcia said. "There was a lot of publicity and a lot of surprise we could do something of that level. There was a lot of talk around town for at least a month.

Rockets coming?

"I think people have gotten into a routine of asking what preseason game will be next. People continue to ask, 'Who will the Rockets' next opponent be?' "

The financial impact in cities with just one game lost is not great, especially in markets such as Hidalgo, whose arena stays especially busy.

But the loss extends beyond the bottom line.

"If you had a preseason game at an existing NBA building that has a full season, I think that's a different environment because they get to see the games all year round where the games actually count," Blockie said. "When the NBA comes here to the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, the Rio Grande Valley is so supportive of it.

A chance to see stars

"They have the opportunity to see the world's greatest basketball players come and play in their backyard, and they get to see them on our court, in our environment.

"The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are accepted. They're part of the community. Now they are bringing in their uncle from out of town, and the uncle is this superstar. They get to see the NBA product on our floor. We're disappointed we won't get a game this year. I'd be more disappointed for the people that might not get to see 50 games this year."